Comments on: Measuring Success http://emergingwriters.us/2009/06/measuring-success/ Training and Inspiration for Writers of Fiction and Memoir. Wed, 08 Sep 2010 07:52:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: www.exotaarticles.com http://emergingwriters.us/2009/06/measuring-success/comment-page-1/#comment-1176 www.exotaarticles.com Sun, 06 Jun 2010 08:47:34 +0000 http://emergingwriters.us/?p=445#comment-1176 Hi. I read a few of your other posts and i wanted to say thank you for the informative posts. Hi. I read a few of your other posts and i wanted to say thank you for the informative posts.

]]> By: Brent Robison http://emergingwriters.us/2009/06/measuring-success/comment-page-1/#comment-1040 Brent Robison Thu, 29 Apr 2010 14:13:45 +0000 http://emergingwriters.us/?p=445#comment-1040 "Whether it sells, or how well it sells, has little correlation to quality." -- Yes, and that includes whether it's accepted by a traditional publisher or agent at all. The publishing biz, like all other big business, is about dollars. That means whatever seems "commercial" based on current trends is most likely to be allowed through the gate. They want the next bestseller, not the next classic. Exceptions are the small presses, but even they have serious bottom-line pressure, so they adopt similar practices as the Big 6. When my story collection got a publishing offer from a small press I had carefully selected, I was horrified by their writer-unfriendly contract. When I politely voiced a concern, they withdrew the offer, no discussion. So I decided to take control of my own destiny and publish myself. There is definitely a feeling of success that comes with seeing that self-created book in one's hands. But of course, the difficulty of sales challenges that good feeling as time goes by. It's such great advice that you're giving: love the journey, not the destination. As Krishna told Arjuna: take the action, let go of the result. I'm beginning to feel that again as I sink deeper into a novel in progress (whenever I can leave behind the marketing of my story collection). Thanks! “Whether it sells, or how well it sells, has little correlation to quality.” — Yes, and that includes whether it’s accepted by a traditional publisher or agent at all. The publishing biz, like all other big business, is about dollars. That means whatever seems “commercial” based on current trends is most likely to be allowed through the gate. They want the next bestseller, not the next classic.

Exceptions are the small presses, but even they have serious bottom-line pressure, so they adopt similar practices as the Big 6. When my story collection got a publishing offer from a small press I had carefully selected, I was horrified by their writer-unfriendly contract. When I politely voiced a concern, they withdrew the offer, no discussion.

So I decided to take control of my own destiny and publish myself. There is definitely a feeling of success that comes with seeing that self-created book in one’s hands. But of course, the difficulty of sales challenges that good feeling as time goes by.

It’s such great advice that you’re giving: love the journey, not the destination. As Krishna told Arjuna: take the action, let go of the result. I’m beginning to feel that again as I sink deeper into a novel in progress (whenever I can leave behind the marketing of my story collection). Thanks!

]]> By: robin prater http://emergingwriters.us/2009/06/measuring-success/comment-page-1/#comment-48 robin prater Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:08:36 +0000 http://emergingwriters.us/?p=445#comment-48 I am an aspiring writer. I write my blog for now as I am growing and learning. I would love to write a devotional one day, and for awhile that is all I thought about, was being published. As my thinking changed, my writing changed, I lost focus of what the real purpose was for me. The real purpose for me was to share Christ, to share from my heart and bless others. For if I never get published and one person comes to know Christ through something I wrote,than it was all worth it. Writing must be a joy, it must be in your heart, and a gift you want to share with others. thank you so much for sharing so I too can learn.. I am an aspiring writer. I write my blog for now as I am growing and learning. I would love to write a devotional one day, and for awhile that is all I thought about, was being published. As my thinking changed, my writing changed, I lost focus of what the real purpose was for me. The real purpose for me was to share Christ, to share from my heart and bless others. For if I never get published and one person comes to know Christ through something I wrote,than it was all worth it. Writing must be a joy, it must be in your heart, and a gift you want to share with others. thank you so much for sharing so I too can learn..

]]> By: Cassandra Jade http://emergingwriters.us/2009/06/measuring-success/comment-page-1/#comment-39 Cassandra Jade Wed, 15 Jul 2009 09:35:55 +0000 http://emergingwriters.us/?p=445#comment-39 To believe you are only successful if you publish is problematic because it relies on othes evaluating your success. As a writer I set far more achievable and realistic goals for myself that I can control. Last year I set the goal to finish my first full manuscript. No half measures, no almost there's but then I got distracted by this other thing, no excuses. Finish the manuscript. Draft it, edit it, edit it again and start getting it out there. And I did that. I was successful. That success made the process so rewarding I've since completed two more manuscripts though both are in various stages of editing. Yes, I want to be published. Very few people who have written an entire novel will suggest that they now want to stick it under the bed and leave it there. Will being published make me any more successful as a writer? Not really. To believe you are only successful if you publish is problematic because it relies on othes evaluating your success. As a writer I set far more achievable and realistic goals for myself that I can control. Last year I set the goal to finish my first full manuscript. No half measures, no almost there’s but then I got distracted by this other thing, no excuses. Finish the manuscript. Draft it, edit it, edit it again and start getting it out there. And I did that. I was successful. That success made the process so rewarding I’ve since completed two more manuscripts though both are in various stages of editing.

Yes, I want to be published. Very few people who have written an entire novel will suggest that they now want to stick it under the bed and leave it there. Will being published make me any more successful as a writer? Not really.

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